The Congress Plaza Hotel Is One of My Favorite Haunted Places in Illinois

I’m always looking for a good ghost story or tall tale to share over a hot cup of apple cider or a crackling bonfire, something spooky to recite to friends and family. Nothing quite beats a good haunted hotel story, and the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago is known for being the most haunted hotel in the country. It’s still a functioning hotel, too, which means that the brave can even spend a night in these ghostly halls. If you dare, that is.

The Congress Plaza Hotel opened in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition and remains one of the oldest hotels in Chicago’s South Loop. It’s located on 520 S. Michigan Avenue and overlooks both Lake Michigan and Grant Park. The building is beautiful, boasting a luxury lobby, expansive rooms, and an ornate banquet hall known as The Gold Room. 

Any place with such a lengthy history is bound to hold some secrets and to have seen some unfortunate happenstances; it’s just that The Congress has had more than its fair share. The hotel is notable for dozens of deaths that have mysteriously occurred on the premises. Guests claim to see ghostly figures, hear voices, feel cold spots, and see objects that seem to move randomly their own. 

The fourth and 12th floors are said to be the most haunted, but it’s room 441 that's thought to be the place in the hotel with the greatest amount of paranormal activity. Guests claim to have seen a shadow woman standing over their bed when they stay in the room and have felt a physical force emanating from her, as well. Nobody knows her history or why so many people have claimed to have seen her. She remains a mystery.

Other consistent sightings include those of a wooden-legged man, nicknamed Peg-Leg Johnny, who can be heard stomping around in the night. A ghostly hand has been seen poking through a wall in the Gold Room, thought to be that of a construction worker who had been sealed within the walls during the hotel’s initial construction. A young boy who runs around the halls of the 12th floor, seemingly disappearing into thin air upon being seen, has also been spotted.

The Congress Plaza hotel is certainly a mysterious place and my favorite haunted location in Illinois. With so many accidents and sightings, it’s hard not to get goosebumps at the thought of staying a night there. Still, plenty of people do. As a functioning hotel in the heart of Chicago, plenty of reputable figures have graced the Congress Plaza’s halls. Nine U.S. presidents have stayed there, including Teddy Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland, though thankfully, none of them have been seen haunting the halls. Next time you're in the Windy City, book at stay at the Congress Plaza—if you dare!

Have you experienced the Congress Plaza Hotel or any other haunted spots in Illinois? If you know of other ghostly areas that you would like us to investigate, please share them through our nomination page.

 If you're feeling inspired to create your own spooky experience, plan a trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.